Christie Rampone's Blog (29)

With Christmas just around the corner and gift-giving season in full swing, what parent doesn’t want to make their child’s wish list come true?

Remember though, when it comes to kids, gifts and gadgets, moderation and discipline are truly the gifts that keep on giving.

Smartphones, tablets, laptops, televisions… Like it or not, expensive technology isn’t just for adults anymore, and with the level of technology available at the fingertips of children and adults alike, it’s easy…

It doesn’t matter if you’re a mother, an athlete, both, or neither. To perform at our best every day, no matter what we do, we need to reserve time for recovery.

Adequate rest and healthy sleep every night are essential to maintaining peak performance. It’s recommended that kids get between 9 and 11 hours of sleep per night. For adults, it’s somewhere between 7 and 9 hours.

I say, be in tune with your body and what it needs; maybe that’s six hours a night, maybe it’s 10.…

Life is stressful. Every day, it feels like we’re getting pulled in all possible directions, overwhelmed with things to do, people to see, and places to be. And before you know it, your entire day feels like complete chaos.

Just remember… deep breaths.

Understanding and managing stress is so important, but it takes work. Whether it’s physical wear-and-tear or emotionally draining mental stress, awareness is key. Why are you stressed? Although…

If I’ve learned anything on my journey as a mother, an athlete, and a woman, it’s this: Life isn’t always fair. There are highs and there are lows. There are things you can’t control. Accept those things, and empower yourself with what you can control.

When life is hard, how you react is up to you. What matters isn’t that you got knocked down, what matters is how you bounce back.

For me, the most important factors for staying happy, healthy, and resilient have been focus and a…

Did you know May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month? What better way to honor 31 days of fitness than with a breath of fresh air for you and your workout? Get out there and try something new!

Challenge yourself with a new fitness goal. Maybe add in some friendly competition to keep you motivated.

Running can provide the perfect balance of camaraderie and competition, and the Jersey Shore is blooming with competitive races to suit runners of all skills and…

It surprises me when people assume I exercise for two or three hours a day. I have to smile because, when I’m not with the team, I train for about 20 minutes a day, 30 at the most.

The secret to a successful workout routine isn’t quantity or duration, but finding something you love and committing to it. What are you passionate about? For me, it’s my cross-training class. It’s a blast and never feels like a chore. Maybe for you it’s surfing. Maybe it’s martial arts.

Looking to turbo-charge your fitness routine? A fitness coach could be just the boost your body needs.

We all need to be pushed now and then, myself included. I’ve been an athlete all my life, but no amount of fitness experience can replace having someone there to push you to reach your highest level…and beyond.

A fitness coach will also help you add variety to your workouts, which is important for achieving maximum, long-term results. Remember, it’s all about tricking your…

I’ve been doing this for a long time, so certain things are now second nature to me: Eat right. Stay hydrated. But as kids are young and still learning the value of their choices, it’s our job to not just lead them, but guide them toward that place of self-reliance bred from experience, education and healthy decision making.

When it comes to educating my children, I’m a believer in “showing,” not just “telling.” If my kids are feeling sluggish and not 100 percent, I’ll ask them, “Why…

One of the most important parts of staying on track toward long-term health goals is paying attention to cues from your body. If you’re in pain or sense a possible injury, it’s time to see a doctor. If you ignore the signs, you’re not helping yourself or your family, and you’re not being the best mother you can be.

An injury that takes three weeks to recover from might only take a week with the proper care and attention from a doctor. It’s up to you to maintain a dilligent recovery…

Remember, it’s not just about what your kids need. It’s important to balance family obligations with healthy habits that support your own needs, interests and identity. No matter how busy you are or how crazy things get, you need to set some time aside for yourself.

Another important lesson I’ve learned is to not overwhelm yourself by taking on too many things at once. Try to tackle too much in one day, you’ll just wind up…

Because our schedules can be so crazy during the week, it’s important for us to spend Saturday and Sunday active, outside and together.

There’s nothing like a little fun family competition, and fall—especially here in New Jersey—is the perfect time of year for getting outside with your kids. My girls love to ride the bike path, run around at the park, or even just kick around the soccer ball. They’re also…

As all parents of schoolchildren know, from September to June, there’s no such thing as an “off morning.” When your kids are depending on you to get out the door and off to school on time, there’s no room for sluggishness.

As a parent, it’s part of our job to be at our physical best every day. No excuses. For me, that starts with getting my body moving as quickly as possible—as early as possible. …

As team captain and leader, it’s my job to keep my teammates focused and in a winning state of mind by reminding them that we made it this far for a reason. We’ve been preparing all of our lives for this moment and it’s all about getting into a positive mental state.

Whether it’s the World Cup or your first day on the field, success in every of aspect of life all comes down to a winning frame of mind.

To her teammates, professional soccer player Christie Rampone is “Captain America.” But to Rylie, 9, and Reece, 4, she’s simply Mommy. As the leader of the U.S. National Women’s Soccer Team and a 3-time Olympic medalist, Rampone has proven her athletic prowess, and after being diagnosed with Lyme disease she proved how truly tough she is. Parents caught up with Rampone to talk about her unique…